Mowing, planting flowers and spreading mulch will always be some of the most important aspects of the Landscaping Division's itinerary, but two big projects - a critical weed abatement program and the restoration of South Carolina Avenue - jumped to the forefront this summer.

In March, between Pacific Avenue and the Boardwalk, South Carolina Avenue (right) received a modern facelift. The project was broken down into three phases with a fourth phase set to begin soon after Labor Day. To make way for the new, the old had to be removed. Gone was nearly a block worth of sidewalk, 10 cobra head street lights, and 916 feet of aluminum and chain link fencing.

When construction began, 21,700 square feet of concrete was poured to form the new sidewalks. Meanwhile, 2,350 linear feet of concrete was poured for the curbing, 2,500 linear feet was poured for the gutters, 1,800 linear feet was poured for curbside planters and 1,540 square feet was poured for concrete aprons. To replace the old fencing, 2,010 linear feet of 5-foot-high ACSID fencing was installed and 12 sets of tree grates also were installed along the newly-poured sidewalk.

250 tons of soil was needed to fill the new curbside planters, which also were filled with 80 cubic yards of mulch, 258 evergreen trees, 17 flowering trees and 92 decidous shrubs. To top it off, 10 double acorn light poles were installed in place of the cobra heads, thus providing better asthetics and lighting to the street.

Another major component to the South Carolina Avenue improvement project was the construction of a new, 154-parking space parking lot (below). With two weeks to spare prior to the July 1st grand opening of Resorts' new Rendezvous hotel tower, 315 tons of fill was grated on site for three days with a bulldozer. Fred Franks Asphalt Paving Company then spread 24,000 square feet of asphalt to create the parking lot. Landscapers dug 1,000 feet of trenching to bury the conduit required to power the five new double spot lights. Line striping, directional arrows and wheel stops also were added, thus completing the parking lot prior to the two-week deadline.

After Labor Day the fourth phase of the project, which will entail the repaving of Chalfonte Avenue between North and South Carolina avenues, as well as the pouring of new sidewalks, curbing and installation of fencing, planters and shrubs, will begin.

ACSID Construction Manager Bob Williams, Supervisor Hassan Austin, and landscapers Jason Gallagher and Tauheed Shamsiddeen, along with Medio Construction Company and RAC Fencing were instrumental in the completion of this project.